Connor picks up a picture of Chi-chi and me.
I approach him. “Chi-chi was eight. I was twenty-six.” His age, basically. Our lives are so different. So, so different.
“You’re a pretty woman, Dina Ferrar.”
In the mirror, I see that I’m blushing. “Thanks.”
“Where was this picture taken?”
“On the old fairgrounds in the Taval district. It’s a run-down area of town now because most of the factories closed and people left the area. But it used to be nice. All the best parties happened there during my youth.”
“I think my mother is from that part of town.”
“Oh, you’re right. I remember reading that. It’s only a few blocks from my dad’s.” I swallow what I really want to tell him. Massio Crossbow went after Anabel’s family, but the neighbors defended them, and so Massio went after the entire district. Thousands of people left overnight and never returned. It’s been a ghost town ever since.
Connor slides the picture into his suit jacket. “I’m stealing this.”
I chuckle. “That’s an odd thing to steal. I have my old wedding band somewhere. You can steal that. It’s gold.”
“I have gold.”
There is something sad in the way Connor says that. It makes me want to hug him again. But I refrain. Though I still don’t think there’s anything wrong with comforting grown-ass men. They also need hugs. In fact, everyone could use more hugs. Especially people who have estranged themselves from each other and their families.
“I need a bag from the back.” I enter the storage area.
Connor follows me.
“What if I need to pee?” I ask.
“You pee.”
“Are you going to follow me into the bathroom?”
“Don’t be nasty, Dina.” He stops in the middle of the storage room and turns about. “Oh wow. That’s a lot of pink.”
I laugh. “What can I say? I’m a girly girl.” The back’s painted in pink with a fluffy pink daybed in case I need an afternoon nap when it’s not so busy. Supplies stored in pink plastic containersline the tall shelves. I tend to buy in bulk during sales, so this salon with a storage area is a great place for my business.
Damn, the bag I’m looking for is in the container all the way on the top shelf. I grab a stool, but Connor stops me. “What do you need?”
I point. “That box.”
After he gets it, I grab the bag. Connor puts the box back, and we make our way out.
Something crashes at the front of the salon, rattling the racks. Boxes tip over and fall. Connor pulls out his guns, and I freeze next to him. An explosion blows out the wall separating the front from the back.
I fly into the rack, hit my back and head, then cover my face before everything collapses on me. Under the rubble, the dust makes it hard to breathe. I cough. My lungs struggle. My vision goes dark.
Chapter 28
They took the bait
Dina
My throat feels like someone rammed a brick through it, then crushed it and made me swallow pieces of debris. Debris? Why is there debris in the back of my throat?
My head hurts.
I try to get up, but can’t.
